Method and system for secure distribution of content over a communications network

Abstract

A method and system for the secure distribution of content over a communications network such as the Internet where a content owner distributes content broken down into blocks to one or more content sources, the content sources serving as distribution points to subscribers, with the content owner retaining control over the distribution transaction. A subscriber requesting a content item from a content owner receives a list of content sources with available blocks of the content item in addition to the subscriber determining blocks available from peers on available peer-to-peer networks, and uses this information to determine a more optimal distribution of blocks of the content.

1 . A method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising: 
 packaging the content item into a plurality of blocks of data;    distributing at least one block of data from the plurality of blocks of data for the content item to at least one of a content source and a peer-to-peer network, wherein the at least one content source and peer-to-peer network serve as a distribution point for the block of data;    receiving a request from a subscriber for the content item, the content item made available over the communications network; and    providing to the subscriber a list identifying at least one content source, wherein the listed content source makes available to the subscriber at least one block of data for the content item.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 verifying an authorization for the subscriber to access the content item; and    providing to the subscriber a list identifying at least one content source as a function of verifying the authorization, wherein the listed content source makes available to the subscriber at least one block of data for the content item.    
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the block of data represents a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one block of data for the content item includes at least one metadata block, wherein the metadata block contains metadata for the content item.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the subscriber is a viewer process running on behalf of a content subscriber.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the provided list identifying at least one content source is prioritized geographically.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the provided list identifying at least one content source is prioritized geographically as a function of a subscriber location.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the provided list additionally includes load information for the at least content source.  
   
   
       9 . A method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising: 
 receiving from a content owner a block of data for the content item;    receiving from a subscriber a request for the block of data for the content item, the request automatically generated without a user interaction as a function of a prior request to a content owner for the content item;    adding an additional data item to the block of data for the content item as a function of the received request; and    sending the block of data to the subscriber as a function of the received request.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 verifying with the content owner an authorization for the subscriber to receive the block of data as a function of the received request.    
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the block of data represents a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the subscriber is a viewer process running on behalf of a content subscriber.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the additional data item is a digital watermark item.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the request includes at least one of a public key and a subscriber item.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 encrypting the block of data as a function of the request.    
   
   
       16 . A method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising: 
 receiving from a content owner the content item;    dividing the content item into a plurality of blocks of data in order to facilitate the distribution of the content item over the communications network;    receiving from a subscriber a request for a block of data for the content item, the request automatically generated without a user interaction as a function of a prior request to the content owner for the content item;    adding an additional data item to the block of data for the content item as a function of the received request; and    sending the block of data to the subscriber as a function of the received request.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 verifying with the content owner an authorization for the subscriber to receive the block of data as a function of the received request.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the subscriber is a viewer process running on behalf of a content subscriber.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the additional data item is a digital watermark item.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the request includes at least one of a public key and a subscriber item.  
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 encrypting the block of data as a function of the request.    
   
   
       22 . A method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising: 
 selecting the content item, the content item made available over the communications network by a content owner;    receiving from the content owner a list identifying a content source for the content item, the content source making available at least one block of data for the content item, the block of data representing a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network;    requesting at least one block of data from the content source automatically without a user interaction as a function of the selecting step; and    receiving the at least one block of data from the content source.    
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 receiving from the content owner a list identifying a content source for the content item, the list prioritized geographically and the content source making available at least one block of data for the content item, the block of data representing a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network.    
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 receiving from the content owner a list identifying a content source for the content item, the list prioritized geographically as a function of a subscriber location and the content source making available at least one block of data for the content item, the block of data representing a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network.    
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 requesting at least one block of data from the content source automatically without a user interaction as a function of the selecting step and as a function of the subscriber location.    
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 receiving from the content owner a list identifying a content source with associated load information for the content item, the content source making available at least one block of data for the content item, the block of data representing a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network.    
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 requesting at least one block of data from the content source automatically without a user interaction as a function of the selecting step and as a function of the load information.    
   
   
       28 . A method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising the steps of: 
 selecting the content item, the content item made available over the communications network by a content owner;    activating a viewer process as a function of selecting the content item;    receiving from the content owner a list identifying at least one content source for the content item, the content source making available at least one block of data for the content item, the block of data representing a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network;    searching by the viewer process for a peer-to-peer source for the content item, the peer-to-peer source making available at least one block of data for the content item;    requesting from a determined location the block of data for the content item, the determined location including at least one of the content source and the peer-to-peer source and the viewer process selecting the determined location automatically without a user interaction as a function of the selecting step and as a function of an availability for the block of data;    receiving by the viewer process the block of data from the determined location; and    assembling by the viewer process the block of data into the content item.    
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the received list identifying at least one content source is prioritized geographically.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the received list identifying at least one content source is prioritized geographically as a function of a subscriber location.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 requesting from a determined location the block of data for the content item, the determined location including at least one of the content source and the peer-to-peer source and the viewer process selecting the determined location automatically without a user interaction as a function of the selecting step and as a function of an availability for the block of data and as a function of the subscriber location.    
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the received list additionally includes load information for the at least content source.  
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 requesting from a determined location the block of data for the content item, the determined location including at least one of the content source and the peer-to-peer source and the viewer process selecting the determined location automatically without a user interaction as a function of the selecting step and as a function of an availability for the block of data and as a function of the load information.    
   
   
       34 . The method according to  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 providing at least one of a public key and a subscriber item to the determined location for the block of data for the content item.    
   
   
       35 . The method according to  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 serving as peer-to-peer source for the received block of data for the content item.    
   
   
       36 . A system for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising: 
 a program memory;    a storage device; and    a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to: 
 (i) package the content item into a plurality of blocks of data;  
 (ii) distribute at least one block of data from the plurality of blocks of data for the content item to at least one of a content source and a peer-to-peer network, wherein the at least one content source and peer-to-peer network serve as a distribution point for the block of data;  
 (iii) receive a request from a subscriber for the content item, the content item made available over the communications network; and  
 (iv) provide to the subscriber a list identifying at least one content source, wherein the listed content source makes available to the subscriber at least one block of data for the content item.  
   
   
   
       37 . A system for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising: 
 a program memory;    a storage device; and    a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to: 
 (i) receive from a content owner a block of data for the content item;  
 (ii) receive from a subscriber a request for the block of data for the content item, the request automatically generated without a user interaction as a function of a prior request to a content owner for the content item;  
 (iii) add an additional data item to the block of data for the content item as a function of the received request; and  
 (iv) send the block of data to the subscriber as a function of the received request.  
   
   
   
       38 . A system for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising: 
 a program memory;    a storage device; and    a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to: 
 (i) receive from a content owner the content item;  
 (ii) divide the content item into a plurality of blocks of data in order to facilitate the distribution of the content item over the communications network;  
 (iii) receive from a subscriber a request for a block of data for the content item, the request automatically generated without a user interaction as a function of a prior request to the content owner for the content item;  
 (iv) add an additional data item to the block of data for the content item as a function of the received request; and  
 (v) send the block of data to the subscriber as a function of the received request.  
   
   
   
       39 . A system for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising: 
 a program memory;    a storage device; and    a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to: 
 (i) select the content item, the content item made available over the communications network by a content owner;  
 (ii) receive from the content owner a list identifying a content source for the content item, the content source making available at least one block of data for the content item, the block of data representing a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network;  
 (iii) request at least one block of data from the content source automatically without a user interaction as a function of the selecting step; and  
 (iv) receive the at least one block of data from the content source.  
   
   
   
       40 . A system for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, comprising: 
 a program memory;    a storage device; and    a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to: 
 (i) select the content item, the content item made available over the communications network by a content owner;  
 (ii) activate a viewer process as a function of selecting the content item;  
 (iii) receive from the content owner a list identifying at least one content source for the content item, the content source making available at least one block of data for the content item, the block of data representing a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network;  
 (iv) search by the viewer process for a peer-to-peer source for the content item, the peer-to-peer source making available at least one block of data for the content item;  
 (v) request from a determined location the block of data for the content item, the determined location including at least one of the content source and the peer-to-peer source and the viewer process selecting the determined location automatically without a user interaction as a function of the selecting step and as a function of an availability for the block of data;  
 (vi) receive by the viewer process the block of data from the determined location; and  
 (vii) assemble by the viewer process the block of data into the content item.  
   
   
   
       41 . A computer readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, the method comprising: 
 packaging the content item into a plurality of blocks of data;    distributing at least one block of data from the plurality of blocks of data for the content item to at least one of a content source and a peer-to-peer network, wherein the at least one content source and peer-to-peer network serve as a distribution point for the block of data;    receiving a request from a subscriber for the content item, the content item made available over the communications network; and    providing to the subscriber a list identifying at least one content source, wherein the listed content source makes available to the subscriber at least one block of data for the content item.    
   
   
       42 . A computer readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, the method comprising: 
 receiving from a content owner a block of data for the content item;    receiving from a subscriber a request for the block of data for the content item, the request automatically generated without a user interaction as a function of a prior request to a content owner for the content item;    adding an additional data item to the block of data for the content item as a function of the received request; and    sending the block of data to the subscriber as a function of the received request.    
   
   
       43 . A computer readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, the method comprising: 
 receiving from a content owner the content item;    dividing the content item into a plurality of blocks of data in order to facilitate the distribution of the content item over the communications network;    receiving from a subscriber a request for a block of data for the content item, the request automatically generated without a user interaction as a function of a prior request to the content owner for the content item;    adding an additional data item to the block of data for the content item as a function of the received request; and    sending the block of data to the subscriber as a function of the received request.    
   
   
       44 . A computer readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, the method comprising: 
 selecting the content item, the content item made available over the communications network by a content owner;    receiving from the content owner a list identifying a content source for the content item, the content source making available at least one block of data for the content item, the block of data representing a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network;    requesting at least one block of data from the content source automatically without a user interaction as a function of the selecting step; and    receiving the at least one block of data from the content source.    
   
   
       45 . A computer readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for secure distribution of a content item over a communications network, the method comprising: 
 selecting the content item, the content item made available over the communications network by a content owner;    activating a viewer process as a function of selecting the content item;    receiving from the content owner a list identifying at least one content source for the content item, the content source making available at least one block of data for the content item, the block of data representing a portion of the content item broken down to facilitate distribution of the content item over the communications network;    searching by the viewer process for a peer-to-peer source for the content item, the peer-to-peer source making available at least one block of data for the content item;    requesting from a determined location the block of data for the content item, the determined location including at least one of the content source and the peer-to-peer source and the viewer process selecting the determined location automatically without a user interaction as a function of the selecting step and as a function of an availability for the block of data;    receiving by the viewer process the block of data from the determined location; and    assembling by the viewer process the block of data into the content item.